Apparatus for winding

ABSTRACT

A FORM FOR A CURVED PIPE IS MOUNTED AT OPPOSED ENDS ON ANCHOR PLATES SLIDABLY MOUNTED ON ROTATING ACTUATING ARMS. THE ANCHORS ARE SIMULTANEOUSLY ADJUSTABLE IN THE VERTICAL PLANE WHEREBY THE FORM MAY ROCK IN THE VERTICAL PLANE WHILE ROTATING. A MENAS FOR APPLYING A WRAP TO THE CURVED FORM THEN PROGESSIVELY APPLIES A WRAP OF FILAMENTOUS REINFORCEMENTS ALONG THE ENTRIE CURVED LENGTH OF THE FORM. THE ROTATING FORM IS CONTROLLED WHERBY THE FILAMENT-RECEIVING PORTION OF THE FORM IS ROTATED ABOUT A   HORIZONTAL AXIS OF ROTATION AT THE TIME OF FILAMENT APPLICATION.

Feb. 9, 1971 R. P. GIBBS APPARATUS FOR WIND ING 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 2, 1968 Feb. 9, 1971 R. P. GIBBS APPARATUS FOR WINDING 4Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 2, 1968 Jar/Gama 451 0222 (265.1

Feb. 9,1971 GIBBS 3,562,063

APPARATUS FOR WINDING Filed Feb. 2. 1968 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

United States Patent 01 fice Patented Feb. 9, 1971 3,562,063 APPARATUS FOR WINDING Roland P. Gibbs, Derby, Kans., assignor to Rock Island Oil & Refining Co., Inc., Wichita, Kans., a corporation of Kansas Filed Feb. 2, 1968, Ser. No. 702,740 Int. Cl. B31c 1/00, 1/08, 13/00 U.S. Cl. 156-431 20 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention This invention relates to apparatus for forming curved pipe lengths, and more particularly pertains to apparatus for making filament-reinforced plastic fittings.

Description of the prior art In the formation of curved, filament-reinforced plastic pipe sections, difiiculty has been experienced in properly applying the filamentous reinforcements so that the filaments are uniformly arranged in the completed fitting body, thereby assuring a fitting of uniform structure and strength. The difficulty is occasioned by the curved axis of the fitting form or mandrel which renders uniform application of the wrap a diflicult matter. Angrave U.S. Pat. No. 3,308,001 discloses a winding apparatus in which the pipe form is mounted on a movable support and the wrap material is mounted on pivotal, extensible supports which are in turn mounted on a rotating support frame. In the normal course of operation the movable parts reciprocate and rotate to provide a desired relationship between the curved form and the wrap material.

The apparatus of this invention enables the rotating form to simultaneously rotate while rocking or oscillating in the vertical plane. The wrap-applying mechanism need only laterally move a distance in the horizontal plane which is less than the straight-line length of the curved form axis, in order to uniformly apply the desired wrap along the entire length of the curved form.

SUMMARY It is an object of this invention, therefore, to provide apparatus for forming curved lengths of pipe or tubing in which the pipe form is both rotated and oscillated simultaneously to provide a desired relationship between the form portion being wound and the wrap material being applied.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a winding apparatus which is flexible in operation and readily adaptable to the formation of curved pipe, and fittings of varying size and configuration, with a minimum of apparatus adjustment.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a novel, curved, multi-part fitting form which may readily be adjusted into forty-five or ninety degree elbow forms.

The apparatus of this invention comprises spaced actuating arms for rotating a curved pipe form, sliding anchor plates movable relative to said arms, transmission means connected to said anchor plates for imparting opposite vertical movements to the plates whereby one rises While the other lowers in a vertical plane, resulting in an oscillating or rocking motion occurring simultaneously with the actuating arm rotation; and means for feeding a resin-impregnated wrap, such as impregnated glass filaments, to the periphery of the form to build a wall of desired thickness.

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a winding apparatus made in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary isometric view illustrating the transmission, actuating arms and associated parts of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view of one of the two rotating actuating arms and attached sliding arm assemblies employed in the apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the actuating arm assembly of FIG. 3 taken at right angles thereto;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view taken on line 55 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary, isometric view partly broken away of one of the two sliding arm assem- 'blies and bearings therefor employed in the provided apparatus;

FIG. 7 is a front elevational view, partly broken away, of one of the two sliding arm assemblies employed in the provided apparatus;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 88 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a front elevational view of a form assembly, having threaded portions at opposed ends, which engage opposed anchoring arms; said assembly being adapted to be employed with the winding apparatus of this invention;

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 9 illustrating a fitting form possessing a 45 bend;

FIG. 11 is an elevational view, partly in section, of a 45 elbow made by utilizing the form of FIG. 9 and the illustrated apparatus of the drawing; and

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a flexible mold employed with the form of FIG. 9.

THE INVENTION Referring now more particularly to FIG. 1, an apparatus 10 is illustrated which is adapted to form filamentreinforced plastic fittings such as 45 and elbows. The provided apparatus is adapted to function with any filamentous reinforcement which is employed in conjunction with hardenable resinous material. By way of example, the filamentous reinforcement in the following description may be glass fiber and the hardenable resin may be epoxy resin which, in combination with a suitable hardener such as triethylene tetramine, will build a fitting of desired thickness on a fitting form such as the 90 elbow form 14 of FIG. 9 or the 45 elbow form 16 of FIG. 10 of the drawings.

In accordance with this invention, a form such as form 14 is rotated and simultaneously rocked in the vertical plane as filamentous reinforcements are applied along the entire length of the form. The form 14 comprises opposed, threaded, nipple-like portions 18 which serve as forms for female threads to be formed in the fitting ends, having interposed therebetween discrete tubular segments 20 and 22. A flexible chain 24 is engaged to threaded studs 26 at the exposed end limits, and the latter studs in turn engage locking nuts 25 and 28. Chain 24, in addition to passing through the form sections 18, 20, and 22, passes through anchor elements 30 and 32.

The various form components may be fabricated with interfitting projecting pins and mating recesses to facilitate the desired assembly as illustrated in the drawing. As is clearly seen from FIG. 9, element 32 in combination with cap 34 serves as a base against which tightening nut 28 may be urged in tensioning the chain 24 and effecting a tight, assembled relationship between the components as shown in FIG. 9. Tightening nut 25 is urged in a similar tightening manner against the end wall surface of anchoring element when the form assembly is ready for use.

Each anchoring element 30 and 32 has attached thereto or formed integrally therewith, projecting attaching lugs 36 and 38, respectively.

After the form elements of FIG. 9 have been assembled into a desired unitary relationship, a split rubber mold such as mold 40 of FIG. 12 is placed about the form sections 18, 20, and 22. The mold is split so that it may be readily applied about the outer periphery of the form elements, and it is formed with predetermined dimensions so as to snugly abut against the enlarged collar portions 42 of the form elements 18. In such centered relationship, a molten wax composition is poured into opening 44 of the mold 40 and allowed to form a smooth continuous coating over the mold elements 18, 20, and 22. After the wax hardens, the split form 40 is removed and the entire mold assembly 14 is ready for attachment by means of the lugs 36 and 38 to the apparatus of FIG. 1. The Wax serves as a parting layer for facilitating removal of the completed fitting from the form.

In the multi-part form design above described, center section 22 may be of such predetermined angular dimensions that the same may be removed from the assembly of FIG. 9 so that when the mold segments 20 are brought into contact in the absence of an interposed segment 22, a 45 elbow form results, such as illustrated in FIG. 10. The elements of FIG. 10 are precisely the same as those described with respect to FIG. 9. Similar numbers indicate similar components in the drawing figures.

Assuming that it is desired to build a fiber-reinforced plastic wall about a rotating form, it is seen that the problems of obtaining a uniform wall thickness are minimal when the fibrous reinforcements are wound about a mandrel, or form, rotating about a straight horizontal axis. Thus in the formation of a straight pipe length, a pipe form or mandrel may be rotated about a longitudinal axis of rotation, and the filaments uniformly wound about it as the same are passed at a uniform speed along the mandrel length. In the course of such filament application a hardenable resinous material such as the above-mentioned epoxy resin and hardener is applied to the filaments, and the assembly of pipe form, filaments and resin is rotated as the resin is cured under desired temperature conditions, thereby assuring a pipe of desired strength characteristics.

However, in forming a wall thickness for a curved pipe section or a pipe fitting, such as fitting illustrated in FIG. 11, the application of a uniform filament wrap about a fitting form such as the forms 14 and 16 of FIGS. 9 and 10 becomes more difficult. In order to apply a uniform filament wrap about the latter forms, care must be taken to insure that the form portion to which the filamentous reinforcements are applied is rotating about a horizontal axis. If the entire curved form rotates about a fixed curved axis, it is obvious that it is substantially impossible to apply any type of uniform wrap of filamentous reinforcement unless precise angular control is maintained over the applied filaments.

The apparatus of FIG. 1 is intended to engage a form such as form 14 of FIG. 9, rotate the same, and simultaneously rock the form in the vertical plane so that each longitudinal portion of the form at the time of filament application thereto will be rotating about a horizontal axis.

Referring now more particularly to FIG. 2, it will be noted that the apparatus 10 comprises a framework of vertical channels 52 and transverse channels 54. Mounted on one channel 54 is a drive motor 56 which rotatably drives pulley 58 by means of connecting belt 60. Obviously, a chain and sprocket may be substituted for the illustrated belt and pulley. Pulley 58 is keyed or otherwise suitably affixed to main drive shaft 62. Also keyed to the latter shaft are pulley members 64, 66, and 68. It is the function of main drive shaft 62 to drive secondary drive shaft at a speed of rotation which is greater than, less than, or equal to the rotational speed of main drive shaft 62 by means of the three pulley members 64, 66 and 68. These pulleys rotatably drive corresponding pulley members on the secondary drive shaft. Thus, as will be noted from FIG. 2, pulley 64 drives pulley 74 by means of belt 76 and pulley 66 may drive a pulley on the secondary drive shaft (not seen in FIG. 2 because of the perspective), by means of belt 78. Pulle 68 may drive pulley secured to secondary drive shaft 70 by means of a belt 82.

Each of the belts 82, 78, and 76 is so large as to prevent transmission of torque from the main drive shaft to the secondary drive shaft unless slack is taken up in the particular belt which is intended to transmit rotation from the primary to the secondary drive shaft. In FIG. 2 a tensioning arm 84 having roller 86 attached to the end thereof is illustrated in a down position, opposing the action of spring 88, and rendering taut belt 82 rotatably driving pulley 80 of the secondary drive shaft by means of pulley 68 of primary drive shaft 62.

Assuming that pulleys 68 and 80 are of the same diameter, the secondary drive shaft will rotate at the same speed as the primary drive shaft when the pivotal arm 84 is in the lowered actuating position illustrated. Such shaft speed is desired when no rocking of the form is desired while rotating. Arm 84 may be manually lowered into the illustrated position by means of handle 90, or may be electrically lowered by means of a solenoid 92 which acts to lower the arm 84 and attached roller 86. Assuming pulley 64 is driving pulley 74 which is of smaller diameter, the secondary drive shaft 70 will rotate faster than the primary drive shaft when pivotal arm 94 is lowered and belt 76 rendered taut. Pulley 66 will drive the secondary drive shaft 70 at a lesser speed of rotation if the pulley with which it communicates by means of belt 78 is larger or when handle 96 or solenoid 93 lowers pivotal arm 98 into actuating position.

It is seen, therefore, from the foregoing description, that transmission means mounted on the main drive shaft 62 are provided which impart the same speed of rotation, a greater speed of rotation, or a lesser speed of rotation to the secondary drive shaft 70 by appropriate manipulation of the handles or appropriate actuation of electrical means such as solenoids. The provided transmission means are given by way of example only and it is obvious that equivalent means may be employed for imparting a different speed of rotation to secondary shaft 70 than is applied to the main drive shaft 62. Also, independent means may be employed for rotating the shafts 62 and 70.

The ends of the secondary drive shaft 70 have sprockets 100 attached thereto which in turn rotatably drive chains 102 and 102a. Chain 102 engages a sprocket 104 which rotatably drives a hollow member of square cross section 106, see FIGS. 2, 7, and 8. Member 106 does not laterally move while rotating, being mounted in bearing 108, see FIG. 2. Hollow member 106, as is more apparent from FIG. 7, has telescopically received therein rod 110 which is laterally movable in an in-and-out manner relative to the hollow member 106. Rotatably mounted on an end portion of the rod 110 are roller members 112 which, as will be seen in FIG. 8, are of such diameter as to be snugly received within the square opening detfined by member 106. Inasmuch as there are at least three oppositely disposed spaced rollers, as indicated in FIG. 7, the rod 110 may laterally move relative to member 106 with substantially no play or wobble.

Rod 110 is laterally movable with, but rotatable relative to, sliding cylindrical arm 114, which is more clearly seen from FIGS. 2 and 6 of the drawings. Each sliding arm assembly 114 has a longitudinal slot 116 formed therein which enables a cam roller 118, see FIG. 6, to rotatably move therealong as the sliding arm moves relative thereto. Each sliding arm is mounted in a bearing housing 120 which positions a bearing retainer 122 in addition to ball bearings 124 also more clearly seen in FIG. 6.

As will be seen from FIG. 2, main drive shaft 62 has attached to opposed ends thereof sprockets 125 which rotatably drive chain 126 and 126a. The latter chains in turn drive sprockets 128 and 128a respectively. Inasmuch as sprockets 128 and 128a are driven directly from the main drive shaft, their speeds of rotation are directly dependent thereon, unlike sprockets 104 and 104a which receive their speed of rotation from secondary drive shaft 70 and the interposed transmission.

Referring once more to FIG. 6, it will be noted that drive sprocket 128 is welded or otherwise suitably secured to cylindrical housing 130 on which it is mounted. Housing 130 rotates relative to bearing housing 120 and rotatably drives therewith sliding arm assembly 114 by means of stud member 132 which traverses housing 130 (which is broken away for clarity in FIG. 6) and is fixed relative thereto by lock nut 134. Stud 132 may be of adequate length so as to traverse a rearwardly disposed twin slot 116 in sliding arm 114, not illustrated because of the perspective view. The end of stud 132, not seen, may have a second cam mounted thereon and traverse a portion of housing 130 diametrically opposed to that traversed by the portion of stud 132 illustrated in FIG. 6.

Secured to an end portion of rod 110 is sprocket 136. The latter sprocket rotatably drives a chain 138, illustrated in FIG. 3, which in turn engages a sprocket 140, also seen in FIG. 3, mounted on a rotating shaft 142 more clearly shown in FIG. 4. Also mounted on shaft 142 is a sprocket 144 (see FIG 3) which engages a Eontinuous chain 146 at the lower end of such chain. Chain 146 engages a sprocket 148 at an upper chain portion, as is seen from both FIGS. 3 and 4. Pinned to chain 138 is a sliding anchor plate 150, illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5.

In the normal course of operation, sprocket 136 will rotatably engage chain 138, rotatably driving sprocket 140 mounted on shaft 142. Shaft 142 will simultaneously rotate sprocket 144, driving chain 146 not only about sprocket 144, but also about sprocket 148. Since chain 146 has pinned thereto plate 150 by means of pins 152 or an equivalent means (a pin 152 being illustrated in FIG. 5), plate 150 is movable with chain 146 and will, accordingly, rise or lower in guide channel portions 154 of rotating actuating arm 156, depending upon the direction of travel of chain 146. As seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, pins 152 traverse slot 137 in arm 156. If sprocket 136 rotates at the same speed as arm 156, plate 150 will remain stationary. If sprocket 136 rotates slower, plate 156 will rise; if it rotates faster, plate 156 will lower.

As is more apparent from FIG. 2, actuating arm 156 and twin actuating arm 156a are in opposed relationship. It is also apparent from FIG. 2, the drive mechanism of FIG. 6 is duplicated for rotating actuating arm 156a and, accordingly, sliding arm assembly 114a and other components associated therewith are the same as those previously described with respect to rotating actuating arm 156 and will bear the same identifying numerals as found in FIG. 2 with the adscript a.

In the normal course of operation a form such as form 14 or form 16 of FIGS. 9 and of the drawing is attached to supporting arms 158 and 158a of the rotating actuating arms 156 and 156a respectively. It will be noted that attaching lugs 36 and 38 of the form assemblies are apertured, as are supporting arms 158 and 158a, so that locking pins may traverse aligned apertures of the lugs and supporting arms, whereby the forms may be rotatable with the rotating actuating arms 156 and 156a.

The two drive sprockets 128 and 128a will rotate at a speed dictated by the main drive shaft 62. The forms secured to supporting arms 158 and 158a will rotate therewith. Assuming that an operator desires to rock the rotating mold in a vertical plane, he will actuate the appropriate transmission pulley on the main drive shaft so as to rotate the secondary drive shaft 70 at a greater or lesser speed. Assuming that the operator actuates handle of the transmission illustrated in FIG. 2, belt 76 is rendered taut rotatably driving pulley 74 thereby rotating secondary drive shaft 70 and sprockets 104 and 104a at a greater speed of rotation than main drive shaft 62. This greater speed of rotation will be transmitted to the telescoping hollow member and rod assembly, most clearly seen in FIG. 7. The latter assembly rotatably drives sprockets 1.36 and 136a (not illustrated) at a greater speed than the sliding arms 114 and 114a are rotatably driven by driving sprockets 128 and 12811 directly actuated by the main drive shaft through chain 126. As a result, sprocket 136 will drive chain 146 at a speed greater than the speed of rotation of arm 156 (see FIG. 4), resulting in a downward movement of plate 150.

It is apparent from FIG. 2 that the two chains 146 and 146a (not illustrated) to which the plates 150 and 150:: and their supporting arms 158 and 1580, respectively are secured will have corresponding movement in the opposite direction in the vertical plane by virtue of the fact that driving sprocket 136 will be driven in one direction of rotation, while the sprocket 136a, not shown but comprising a part of rotating arm assembly 150a, is driven at the very same speed of rotation in the opposite direction. Sprocket 136 by virtue of its speed relative to that of arm 156 will cause plate 150 to lower. Since sprocket 136a, not illustrated, of arm 156a is rotating in the opposite direction of rotation it will cause plate 150a (see FIG. 2) to rise assuming, of course, it is pinned to the appropriate portion of chain 146a.

It is apparent from an examination of the forms of FIGS. 9 and 10, that as the supporting arms 158 and 158a rise and lower, the rotating arms 156 and 156a and the sliding arm assemblies 114 and 114a associated therewith must move relative to each other in the horizontal plane because of the varying horizontal distance between the actuating arms occasioned by the rocking of the curved axis of the form in the vertical plane. Arms 114 and 114a are bolted or otherwise suitably affixed to arms 156 and 146a respectively. This lateral movement is permitted by virtue of the telescoping rod and hollow member arrangement most clearly seen in FIG. 7 and the sliding ability of arm 114. The lateral movement of rod 110 simultaneously moves sliding arm 114.

An operator, therefore, will rotate a form between the actuating arms 156 and 156a. As the form rotates, plastic, glass, or other filamentous reinforcements are fed from reel housings 160 as better seen in FIG. 1. Filatire curved axis of illustrated filling 50. The operator, by proper control of the rotational speed transmitted to the secondary drive shaft 70 will rock the form secured to twisted, and the pivoting arm assembly 164 so as to engage that desirable portion of the rotating form which is rotating about a horizontal axis of rotation. Assembly 164 pivots about bearing 165 and is illustrated in FIG. 1 pivoted to the right. Arm 164 may move along the en tire curved axis of illustrated filling 50. The operator, by proper control of the rotational speed transmitted to the second drive shaft 70, will rock the form secured to the rotating actuating arms in a desirable manner as he winds the filaments about the form.

Simultaneously with the application of the glass filaments to the form, epoxy resin and hardener may be fed onto the glass filaments as the same are applied to the rotating form as by a heated conduit 166. A drip trough 158 may be employed to catch any excess resin which may drip from the filaments in normal operation.

FIG. 1 also illustrates a speed control which may be employed in conjunction with drive motor 56 for co11- trolling the speeds of rotation of the various components. It is apparent that to raise and lower the rotating anchor plates 150 and 150a the desired speeds are transmitted to the secondary drive shaft 70 from the main drive shaft 62 by the above-described transmission. Although not illustrated, controls may be incorporated with the apparatus above-described, such as limit switches for automatically adjusting the speed of the secondary drive shaft to reverse the movement of the form in the vertical plane after the filaments have been passed along the length of the rotating form from the distributing arm 164.

It is seen, therefore, that by means of novel rotating and sliding arm assemblies a form may be simultaneously rotated and rocked in a vertical plane. An operator may initiate fitting formation by rotating one end of the fitting form about a horizontal axis of rotation and gradually rock the form until the opposite end is rotating about such horizontal axis of rotation. The operator thus adjusts the angular disposition of the rotating form so that the portion thereof to which the filaments are being applied is rotated about a horizontal axis of rotation. The novel transmission means employed provides reversal of the rocking action of the form in the vertical plane without reversing direction of rotation of the main drive motor 56.

After a wall thickness of desired size and configuration has been built up in the manner described, the apparatus is stopped and the form and the glass-reinforced fitting wormed thereabout are removed from the supporting arms 158 and 1580. The locking nuts 28 and 25, shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, are removed and the finished product readily removed from the form segments by melting the wax coating applied in the manner previously described. Threaded form segments 18 must obviously be threadedly disengaged from the fitting ends. If desired, a heating lamp may be disposed adjacent the apparatus of FIG. 1 to cure the resin of the fitting as the same rotates.

While particular embodiments of this invention have been shown and described, it will be understood, of course, that the invention is not limited thereto since modifications may be made by those skilled in the art, particularly in light of the foregoing teachings. Therefore, it is contemplated by the appended claims to cover any such modifications as incorporate those features which may be said to constitute the essential features of these improvements, within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In an apparatus substantially as described, a combination comprising curved form means, rotating supports, anchor means movable relative to said supports for engaging the opposed ends of said form means, means for rotatably driving said supports, and means for adjusting the relative positions of said anchor means in a vertical plane to facilitate the application of a rocking motion to said curved form means while said supports are rotating.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said means for adjusting the relative positions of said anchor means includes means to limit the adjustment of said anchor means between positions in which the opposed end limits of said curved form means rotate about horizontal axes of rotation.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 in combination with means for applying wrap material to that portion of the rotating form means which is rotating about a horizontal axis of rotation.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 in combination with means for applying wrap material to that portion of the rotating form means which is rotating about a horizontal axis of rotation, and in which said wrap material comprises glass filaments in combination with means for maintaining said glass filaments in parallel untwisted relationship as they are applied about the form means.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 in combination with means for saturating said filaments with resin prior to being applied to said form means.

6. In an apparatus substantially as described, the combination comprising curved form means, means for engaging opposed ends of said form means, primary drive means for rotatably driving the engaging means, means for adjusting the relative position between said engaging means in a vertical plane whereby said engaging means move in the vertical plane in opposite directions, second ary drive means for driving the adjusting means, and transmission means interposed between said primary and secondary drive means whereby said secondary drive means is driven by said primary drive means.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 in which said adjusting means comprises rotatable means driven by said secondary drive means and means responsive to said rotatable means for translating rotary movement of said secondary drive means into movement of said engaging means in a vertical plane.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 in which said form means comprises a plurality of discrete parts which may be assembled into a 45 degree fitting form by means of a flexible tensioning means passing through said discrete parts.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 in which said discrete parts may be assembled into a ninety degree fitting form by the addition of another discrete form part; said fiexible tensioning means passing through all of said discrete parts.

10. In an apparatus substantially as described the combination comprising spaced rotatable actuating arms, anchor means slidably movable along the length of said actuating arms, means for rotating both of said actuating arms at desired speeds of rotation, means connected to said anchor means for adjusting the relative position therebetween in a vertical plane as said actuating arms rotate, the adjusting means comprising a continuous conveyor means connected to each of said anchor means, and means for moving said conveyor means and attached anchor means relative to said actuating arms.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 in which the means for moving said conveyor means is laterally movable while said actuating arms are rotating.

12. In an apparatus substantially as described, the combination comprising spaced rotating arms rotatable in spaced vertical planes, drive means for said rotating arms, anchor means on each of said arms slidably movable along at least a portion of the length thereof while such arms are rotating, means connected to said anchor means for moving said anchor means in opposite directions while said arms are rotating; said moving means being adapted to drive said anchor means in opposite directions relative to said rotating arms.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 in which the interval between said rotating arms is adjustable.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 in which each of said anchor means is secured to a link of a continuous chain movable along the length of its respective rotating arm, and a rotatable drive means drives said chain so as to axially move said anchor means along the length of said rotating arm.

15. The apparatus of claim 12 in which said drive means for said chain will axially move said anchor means when rotatingat a speed different from the speed of rotation of said rotating arm.

16. The apparatus of claim 12 in which a transmission means is interposed between said drive means for said rotating arms and said drive means for said chains whereby said chains may be driven at a speed different from that of said arm means.

17. In an apparatus substantially as described, the combination comprising curved form means, rotating supports secured to said curved form means, anchoring means movable relative to said supports for engaging the opposed ends of said form means, means for rotatably driving said supports, means for adjusting the relative position of said anchoring means in a vertical plane while said supports are rotating, and means for applying a wrap ma- 9 terial about that portion of the rotating form means which is rotating about a horizontal axis of rotation.

18. A method for operating the apparatus substantially as described wherein a curved form is secured to rotating supports, anchoring means movable relative to said supports engage the opposed ends of the form means and which includes means for rotatably driving the supports, and means for adjusting the relative position of the anchoring means in a vertical plane while the supports are rotating which method comprises:

(a) securing said form means at either end thereof to the support means;

(b) rotating said curved form means about a first axis;

and

(c) rocking about a second axis substantially normal to the first axis, said curved form means between first and second opposed positions While contemporaneously rotating said curved form means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,397,847 8/1968 Thaden 156189X BENJAMIN A. BORCHELT, Primary Examiner T. H. WEBB, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 

